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I had shingles about a month after finishing rads for primary disease, and yes, the leisions start out as red, raised bumps that are slightly itchey. Plus, there is usually pain in the affected nerves (the virus lies dormant in a nerve until activated). After a week to 10 days, the leisions scab up and look just like a chicken pox scab, almost black. The more leisions you have, usually the more pain. My mother-in-law is currently suffering from what her doctor termed the worst case she's ever seen, and is in extreme pain in the left chest and on her back, where the leisions were, even though they've all healed up. I was lucky and only had a small quarter sized patch on my cheek near my temple, but had very sharp headaches on that side of my head for months after.
My onc told me it's very common after cancer diagnosis and treatment to develop shingles, due to the comprimised immune system.
<3 Lolly
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